Ayurvedic skin care for swimmers

An earthy touch: A dip in the pool can beat the summer heat but it can leave a severe tan on the skin for months. Try a mixture of Multani Mitti (mineral-rich clay) along with few drops of lemon and rose water.

After your time in the sun, mix the ingredients and apply on exposed areas. The paste calms the skin with a cooling effect. Also apply coconut or olive oil liberally over body parts that are exposed to chlorinated water.

Spice up your life: Water in swimming pools contains disinfectants like iodide and chlorine, which cause skin problems like acne flare-ups, rashes and red patches. Cinnamon has great anti-microbial properties.

Add a few drops of honey and Aloe Vera gel to cinnamon powder to fight bacteria-causing acne. The mixture also keeps the skin moist.

For a golden glow: Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and cleanses pores from within. Grind neem leaves with water and mix it with one tablespoon of turmeric powder.

Apply the paste on the face with few drops of rose water to clear up skin after acne break-outs and also to reduce scars naturally.

The secret mantra: To avoid the contagious skin diseases and allergies caused by swimming in public pools, Ayurveda recommends adding neem leaf extract to bathing water. If you cannot organise a fresh extract every day, pick body cleansing products that have "neem" or "tea tree oil" as their main ingredient.

Drink Herbal Tea: It is also a good idea to start drinking herbal teas that have a rich antioxidant content. This will help relieve the stress of oxidative damage on your skin.

The teas will supply your skin with antioxidants which will, in turn, neutralize free radicals that can wreak

havoc on your skin. Moringa tea and green tea are two great options to choose from.

Use Coconut oil: Our skin has a natural thin layer of oil that serves as a barrier against viruses and bacteria keeping the skin healthy.

When swimming in chlorinated water this layer is stripped off leaving the skin susceptible to infections. By applying a thin layer of coconut oil the skin is provided with an additional layer of protection.

Hydrate And Then Hydrate Some More: One of the best ways to ensure that your skin does not get dehydrated is to keep sipping on some water while you swim.

Make sure that you consume enough water throughout the day so that your skin is healthy and does not try to make up for lack of moisture by absorbing pool water.

Think of your skin as a sponge, there is only so much water it can take on. And as long as it is moisturized, it's not going to absorb excess amounts of chlorine.